PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Gaetz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Wanhanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wanhanen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mina olen by Kotiteollisuus kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Matti Wanhanen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Gaetz
vs
Wanhanen

187 cm
20
212 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

197 cm
24
213 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Link Gaetz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matti Wanhanen!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wanhanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gaetz throws out the jab.
Wanhanen lands a body shot.
Gaetz misses with a body shot.

Wanhanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gaetz to the mat! Gaetz manages to get full guard.
Wanhanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaetz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gaetz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wanhanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wanhanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wanhanen throwing strikes but missing.
Gaetz wants to stand but Wanhanen is controlling the position.

Gaetz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wanhanen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wanhanen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Wanhanen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Wanhanen postures up in Gaetz's guard and throws a big left but Gaetz blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanhanen scoring with some ground and pound.
Wanhanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wanhanen chips away with some ground and pound.
Wanhanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaetz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Wanhanen drops back looking for a leg! Gaetz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gaetz manages to kick Wanhanen off! Wanhanen jumps back into Gaetz's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wanhanen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wanhanen prevents Gaetz from getting back to his feet.
Wanhanen throwing strikes but missing.
Gaetz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Wanhanen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wanhanen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wanhanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gaetz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wanhanen trying to control but Gaetz is working from the bottom.
Gaetz wants to stand but Wanhanen is controlling the position.
Wanhanen distracts Gaetz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Wanhanen looking to pass the guard.
Wanhanen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wanhanen prevents Gaetz from getting back to his feet.
Wanhanen trying to control but Gaetz is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wanhanen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gaetz is looking to stand up but Wanhanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Gaetz is breathing heavily.
Wanhanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wanhanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wanhanen prevents Gaetz from getting back to his feet.
Gaetz keeping full guard, as Wanhanen tries to pass.
Wanhanen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wanhanen working some strikes from top position.
Wanhanen with a nice head shot there.
Wanhanen prevents Gaetz from getting back to his feet.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Wanhanen manages to pass to side control.
Wanhanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wanhanen moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gaetz.
Gaetz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wanhanen working the ground and pound from side control.
Wanhanen working the ground and pound from side control.
Gaetz tries to escape but Wanhanen is in control.

Wanhanen is trying to get an arm triangle but Gaetz is defending well.
Wanhanen cracks Gaetz with a big right hand but Gaetz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wanhanen wants to control but Gaetz is keeping him busy.
Gaetz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wanhanen is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wanhanen is looking to take a break and control but Gaetz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Wanhanen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wanhanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gaetz's head.
Gaetz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gaetz misses with a straight left.
Gaetz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Wanhanen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gaetz quickly recovers to half guard.
Wanhanen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wanhanen wants to take a breather but Gaetz is having none of it.
Gaetz taking some punishment here, with Wanhanen in his half guard.
Gaetz wants to improve his position but Wanhanen is controlling well.
Wanhanen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wanhanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gaetz is trying to stand up here but Wanhanen is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wanhanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Gaetz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wanhanen connects with a nice short shot to Gaetz's temple.
Gaetz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wanhanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gaetz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wanhanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ground and pound from Wanhanen.
Wanhanen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gaetz pushes Wanhanen off looking to stand but Wanhanen dives back in and keeps control.
Wanhanen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Wanhanen working Gaetz over with strikes.
Wanhanen stops Gaetz from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wanhanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wanhanen lands a nice short elbow.
Wanhanen controlling the action here.
Wanhanen is pressing down on Gaetz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gaetz is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet.
Wanhanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wanhanen winds up and cracks Gaetz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Gaetz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet.
Wanhanen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wanhanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaetz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wanhanen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wanhanen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet.
Wanhanen is looking to take a break and control but Gaetz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Wanhanen there.
Wanhanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matti Wanhanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gaetz is trying to stand back up but Wanhanen is controlling him
Wanhanen winds up and cracks Gaetz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gaetz is trying to stand back up but Wanhanen is controlling him
Gaetz taking some punishment here, with Wanhanen in his half guard.

Wanhanen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wanhanen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wanhanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaetz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wanhanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wanhanen is looking to take a break and control but Gaetz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wanhanen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Wanhanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Wanhanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gaetz is trying to stand back up but Wanhanen is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wanhanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Wanhanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Gaetz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gaetz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gaetz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gaetz throws a predictable looking body shot

and Wanhanen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gaetz's guard.
Wanhanen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wanhanen passes Gaetz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gaetz is staying active underneath Wanhanen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wanhanen works his way into full mount!
Wanhanen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gaetz looks a forlorn figure.
You get the feeling that Gaetz really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Wanhanen is landing with some decent strikes but Gaetz is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanhanen looking to control but Gaetz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wanhanen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Gaetz is rocked!
Wanhanen is landing with some decent strikes but Gaetz is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Oh Gaetz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wanhanen lands a big shot there that rocks Gaetz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
You get the feeling that Gaetz really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Wanhanen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gaetz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wanhanen looking to finish Gaetz with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gaetz!
Wanhanen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gaetz?
Wanhanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wanhanen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wanhanen lands a big shot to the head and Gaetz winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Matti Wanhanen!